Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-25
THETAx COMMISSION BILL.

THE TAX COMMISSION BILL
The House Rejects 1.-THE Bin Com
polling tho Closing OF Saloons BE.
tween i p. m. and n. Tn. Passed
Suggestions Following the Nat1ona!
Railroad Act-HOw the Railroad
commissioners View 1.-THE Senate
Passes the County commissioners
BIlI-An Interesting Hearing Before
the Railroad Committee-The SesS ON
Drawing to a Close.
HARTFORD, March "a, 1887.
Especial to the JOURNAL AND CoURIER.l
The gates against the receival of committee
reports by the House and Senate will in all
probability close some time next week. The
bulletin has rapidly diminished during the
past fortnight, the committees getting IN
some good solid work An adjournment it
is thought can be taken three weeks after
the limit for the reception of committee re-
ports, or at least recess until September.
Mr.. Henry L. Goodwin, who is known as the
antagonizer to the Consolidated road, ap-
peared before the committee railroads
this afternoon in support of a bill which he
presented providing for the abolition Of
grade crossings The bill provides that
every railroad company before paying a
dividend shall report to the railroad commits
sioners the amount expended since the last
dividend in doing away grade crossings on
it's line in towns that were not required to
contribute to the expense; that no company
shall pay dividend that exceeds 8 per cent
by greater amount than it has spent since
its last dividend for the abolition of grade
crossings; that if any railroad company shall
pay more than per cent, plus the sum used
to abolish grade crossings since its last divi-
dend, it shall forfeit to the State sum equal
to such excess, the treasurer to sue for it;
that the sum so forfeited shall be spent under
the direction of the railroad commissioners
to remove grade crossings of railroads
whose net earnings did not amount
to per cent. of their capital
stock. Mr.. Goodwin advocated his bill
and also spoke in favor of having the warn
ing boards removed back on the highways
from the crossings to distance of about one
hundred rods to give people travelling in the
night time chance to be warned before get
ting on to the tracks. Hon. Henry G. Rob-
inson, the Consolidated roads attorney, OPP
posed the bill. 'tMr. Goodwin" said ne,
has got off his favorite idea in blaming the
roads for the continuance of grade crossings
and causing the nuisances that exist. The
Supreme court has recently decided that
town and railroad were equally liable. The
Consolidated road has got to spend half
million dollars on a new bridge at Lyme on
the Shore Line road and have reduced their
fares to two cents per mile. They are doing
all that is fair and all that can be asked of
them"
LII .,,A-o :,
relating to third-class was then taken
mp. The bill provides for third-class car
to be attached to all accommodation trains
and the fare per mile to be one cent. This
bill relates only to roads in the State which
pay ten per cent. dividends. Mr.. Goodwin
thought the bill good one and that the
public demanded it from some roads. Mr..
Robinson also opposed this bill.
1t was given out Tuesday that the railroad
committee to report favorably on the
petition of the Hartford and Harlem road
granting an extension of time. Col Naples
of the Norwalk Hour appeared before the
committee to-day and advocated the extern
sion He asked whether any other road
which had asked for a like favor was ever
refused. He was informed that they had al
ways been granted. Why then make ex-
ception in the Hartford and Harlem's case?
The committee on humane institutions held
very interesting meeting this afternoon on
the bill concerning district almshouses. Town
Agent Reynolds appeared and stated that he
was not exactly opposed, but a little
afraid that the measure if adopted would in
crease the number of salaried officers; but on
the other hand he thought the advantages to
be derived from the adoption of the plan
would more than counterfeit this evil.
Lawyer Burton, of Hartford, informed Mr..
Reynolds that the bill, if passed, would les
sen instead of increase the officers. There
are sixty six now in the State, and by the
district plan there would be only thirty
three. Others spoke in favor of the bill,
which seems to meet with general commenda-
ton. The laying out of the districts would
not affect the city almshouses. 1t was intro
duced for the benefit of the small towns
who can't afford to support their poor, but
where several towns are united into district
the desired effect would be reached-better
care at less cost. The decision of this COM
mittee not to report proposed bill which
in effect would prevent from sending of in
sane convicts to Middletown will be general
ly commended. After expanding million
of dollars in buildings at Middletown for the
care of insane poor it is hardly likely that
the State will undertake to establish another
insane hospital at Wehtersfeld for the simple
purpose of its few insane convict wards
In the Senate this morning the railroad
commissioners submitted their answer to
Senator Hills resolution of inquiry concern
ing any changes necessary in the railroad
laws owing to the interstate commerce act.
They assert that they have carefully consid-
cred the matter and that the terms of the
resolution are broad enough to authorize
revision of existing statutes, which work,
however, in view of the pending revision of
the general statutes is not intended and
would not in their judgment be expedient.
Our recommendation, therefore, is that no
such legislation be attempted. The best
judgment throughout the country seems to
be that if in any State supplemental legisla-
ton is to be attempted it should be in the
direct line. The bill reported, but whose
passage is not desirable now. contains pro-
visions against unj Just discrimination or
preference and against greater charges for a
short than long haul, and the requirement
for reasonable, proper and equal facili-
ties for the interchange of traffic
and the receiving, forwarding and
of rates, with provisions for investigation by
the commissioners of complaints and the as
sessment and payment of damages by the
railroad companies. The report was referred
to the railroad committee.
The bill providing for four-year terms for
county commissioners was called up be Sena-
tor Walsh, who spoke twice in its support.
Senators Sumner and Kirkham spoke in IA
vor of the amendment rejected by the House
making the commissioners elected every two
years by the people. This was negatived, 10
to IL, Senators Burnham, Lucas and Henry,
all Republicans, being absent. The bill was
passed in concurrence. The Senate in exec
utive session confirmed the nominations for
the State board of charities. The calendar
was favorably acted upon, including the act
| to regulate the practice of dentistry. The
committee on Humane institutions reported
| in favor of $400 to enable the Industrial
school to be lighted by gas, and in favor of
So 900 to build and furnish an Office build
ing.
The tax commission bill was again taken
up to- day by the House, Mr.. Davis, of Had
dam, being present. He made long speech
against the proposed bill. After discussion,
in which Messrs. Shumway, Davis and VIII
cox participated, the motion for reconsider
alton prevailed. An attempt to secure the
yeas and nays on the bill failed. A vote was
finally taken and the bill was rejected by a
| vote of 142 to so.
It'll. LII 20 he cad